Thread by @fleetstreetfox

While @trusskliz tries to convince her party she knows what she's doing, these are the men and women she refuses to meet.

Last week, nuclear veteran families held a reunion, and wrote her some messages. 1/plenty

Julie Soan, whose dad took part in firing the biggest weapon Britain's ever had, Operation Grapple Y, in 1958: "I seek justice for him."

David Witcomb, who was on National Service when ordered to Christmas Island after it had been covered by radioactive fallout. "Please, before we are all gone."

Gordon Craggs, sent to Christmas Island by the US govt to witness 24 US nuclear explosions with a combined yield 1,900 times that of Hiroshima: "Listen. Think. Act."

John Oates, who worked on planes that flew through the mushroom clouds: "I helped keep us all safe for the past 70yrs. Ms Truss be the first PM to recognise what the forces did for the country during the Cold War years."

Barbara Butler, whose husband died of multiple cancers after Op Grapple, and whose daughter has a litany of birth defects: "Please keep your predecessor's promise to us."

Matthew Waddell, whose grandad won a force *competition* for a holiday on Christmas Island during the tests, and who has had a spinal tumour removed not long ago: "I would like an apology."

Mike Dillon, who worked in the stores troop: "What about recognition for all the lads on the island and all that have passed away."

Widow Maureen Barber: "I find it difficult to believe that troops sent to the Pacific for nuclear testing have had no recognition from the UK."

Wheelchair-bound Suzanne Eades-Willis, whose father was at the tests: "Surely the promise made by Boris must be honoured promptly."

Her daughter Charlotte, who has autism: "We aren't going away."

Brian Unthank, who's had multiple cancers: "Don't you think the phrase risk and rigour is very over-used and rather defunct with all the rare illnesses the veterans and families are experiencing."

Malcolm Smith: "A medal for the heroes, please."

Widow Marion Gumbrill, whose husband took part in radioactive experiments in the Outback: "My husband has died, but his demons from Maralinga live on. Help me to give him justice and put his demons to rest for him and his family."

Hazel Davies, who wants you to know she's 82, has cared for her husband through failing health for 40 years. "Please Prime Minister, help all the veterans."

Bill Lawrie, who took part in clean-up operations: "Say 'thank you' now, not 'we will remember them' later."

Ernest Bow, whose dad David was in the RAF squadron which flew sampling missions: "Why are we the last country that has not given a medal or compensation?"

Long-time campaigner Dennis Hayden: "If the MoD stopped lying about the nuclear tests, we'd stop telling the truth about the MoD."

Finally, Eric Barton, who survived cancer, and was compensated by the American government after the UK ordered him to take part in their testing programme: "Look me in the eye, and recognise me."

These are the men and women who @trussliz has refused to meet. Those are the things they want to say to her.

Today is the #PlutoniumJubilee, 70 years since Britain's first bomb test. And it's also the deadline the government was given - a YEAR ago - to deliver recognition.

So far, they've been promised £450k next April. More than half will go to an institution to record their stories, with the remaining £200k available to be bid for by charities.

It's the equivalent of £133 a head for the 1,500 survivors. Does that sound like enough?

If you include the estimated 155,000 descendants of the original 22,000 men who served, it's equivalent to £1.28.

Each.

£1.28.

Does THAT sound like enough?

"What an awful time you've had, tell you what, here's £1.27 and a CD of your own life story, we won't admit or apologise for anything, and you're welcome."

Last week I told No10 that @JohnnyMercerUK and @DanJarvisMP were joining forces to warn Truss was in danger of betraying these heroes. On the day we published, No10 put out a press release - to other outlets, not me - saying there'll be a £450k 'tribute' to test veterans.

Those outlets which picked it up, with the best of intentions, can have very little appreciation of how little it means. Some are just repeating it word-for-word as though it's jolly nice of the government to notice.

No. No it's not.

This cannot be left to the MoD. It cannot be left on the bottom of the pile.

Evidence is building of the sort that governments cannot ignore any longer.

These guys and their families aren't going away.

@trussliz Meet the veterans, #LookMeInTheEye, and do your duty. /ends

From one veteran tonight on the govt's offer: